Milwaukee, WI, Sept. 24, 2025 – Communities that have limited resources and face high risk from wildfire are getting additional support from the USDA Forest Service. In an announcement made today, states within the Eastern Region will receive $804,281 in Community Wildfire Defense grant awards, funding four projects.
These grants are part of more than $200 million being invested in 58 projects across 22 states and two tribes.
“These grants are about putting resources in the hands of those that know their lands and communities best, so that they can better protect their families, businesses, infrastructure and the future of our shared landscape,” said Secretary Rollins. “Keeping forests healthy, resilient and productive doesn’t come from the top down, it comes from us standing alongside the people and communities we serve, and supporting practical, science-based management that ensures the future of the forests as well as rural prosperity.”
In total, the program is investing $1 billion over five years to assist at-risk communities, including tribal communities, non-profit organizations, state forestry agencies and Alaska Native Corporations with planning for and mitigating wildfire risks on lands not managed by federal agencies.
“No single organization can tackle the severe fire conditions we face today. It is imperative that we work together to protect our forest and communities,” said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. “For those communities that already have plans in place, these investments will enable immediate action to reduce wildfire risk.”
Funded proposals in the Eastern Region are:
| State | Project Title | Award Amount |
| Wisconsin | Town of Townsend Mitigation Plan for Optimizing Fuel Breaks in High-Risk Areas | $309,150 |
| Maine | Pleasant River Lake Association Fuel Reduction | $176,381 |
| Massachusetts | Barnstable County CWPP Revision | $143,750 |
| Minnesota | Lake of the Woods County CWPP Updates | $175,000 |
The Forest Service will announce a fourth funding opportunity later this year.
More information about the funded proposals, as well as announcements about the grant program, is available on the Community Wildfire Defense Grants website.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
